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2020 Alumni Award Winners

These awards recognize members of the George Brown alumni community, who through a breadth of contributions and accomplishments have demonstrated exceptional loyalty, fostered leadership and growth in others and enhanced the reputation of our alumni community and the college.

Alumni Volunteer Award

Photo of Alumni Volunteer Award winner Kayla Moryoussef

Winner: Kayla Moryoussef
Graduate: 2018, Community Worker
Position: Death Cafes Program Manager (Volunteer Position), Home Hospice Association

More about Kayla

Kayla Moryoussef is a bright, passionate, and compassionate young lady with multiple disabilities - but she doesn't let that stop her. Kayla is an end-of-life worker and death educator. Partially because of her limitations, but primarily because of her passion, Kayla spends a tremendous amount of her time volunteering. Kayla volunteers upwards of 40 hours a month, despite limited physical resources. She believes in volunteerism as one of her ultimate values and that no matter how much money she (or anyone makes), she will always find time to volunteer. Kayla’s personality can be summed up by her favourite quotation from Fred Rogers "There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind." Kayla truly lives her life this way, and I believe she deserves recognition for all of her hard work and contributions, for which she asks nothing in return - and rarely ever has.

 

Alumni Leadership Award

Photo of Alumni Leadership Award winner Melonie de Guzman

Winner: Melonie de Guzman
Graduate: 2006, Sport and Event Marketing
Position: Senior Project Manager, Sportsnet NOW

More about Melonie

Melonie graduated from the Sports and Events Marketing post-graduate program at George Brown College in 2006. Since then, she has become a prominent leader in the Digital Media industry, working with great brands such as MuchMusic, CTV, TSN, and Sportsnet. Her work is focused on digital brand partnership initiatives, content strategy, and project management.

She is an active member of both the media and the IT industry in Toronto. Melonie is a public speaker and mentor, partnering with Tech Teahouse, Girls in Tech, Ryerson University and Confederation College. She is also on the Women in Film in Television Programming committee and the co-founder of Rogers Women in Technology, where she is dedicated to the education, engagement and empowerment of women at every stage of their careers

 

Alumni Entrepreneur Award

Photo of Alumni Entrepreneur Award winner Celeste Ceres

Winner: Celeste Ceres
Graduate: 2016, Culinary Skills-Chef Training
Position: Co-Founder, Sacraspice Community Services

More about Celeste

A graduate of George Brown College's Chef Training Program, Celeste has spent the last decade in a number of community-building capacities – from leading programs for newcomers to Canada to supporting business owners in Haiti. Celeste, along with her sister Crystal, is the co-founder of Sacraspice, a charity that leads culturally diverse, intergenerational cooking workshops with middle school students and seniors in Toronto's priority neighbourhoods.

 

Alumni Mentor Award

Photo of Alumni Mentor Award winner Dani Wah
Winner: Dani Wah
Graduate: 2018, Sport and Event Marketing
Position: Marketing Coordinator, Bell Media.
 
More about Dani

Born and raised in small-town British Columbia, Dani is a graduate of George Brown’s Sport and Event Marketing program (2018) and Western University (2016). She is a Marketing Coordinator for Bell Media and previously worked for the London Knights, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and TSN. Since her graduation, she has mentored 50+ Marketing students and helped with countless resumes, interview preparations, and networking connections for students.

 

2019 Alumni Award Winners

These awards recognize members of the George Brown alumni community, who through a breadth of contributions and accomplishments have demonstrated exceptional loyalty, fostered leadership and growth in others and enhanced the reputation of our alumni community and the college.

Alumni Volunteer Award

Winners: Twin brothers Kyle Craig and Cody Craig
Graduates: Human Resources Management, 2010
Position: Health Safety and Environment Managers – Central & Western Canada, Plan Group

Twin brothers Cody and Kyle are both GBC graduates and Health, Safety and Environment Managers at The Plan Group. They split their duties across the country, with Cody as Central and Eastern Territory and Kyle as Central and Western. They started their careers as health and safety administrators and have continued to advance their careers with many educational and development opportunities, moving them up to health and safety coordinators and now managers. 

Kyle and Cody have gone above in beyond in their commitment to the College community and have never turned down an opportunity to be involved when asked over the last 8 years. All these years, they have conducted more than 40 presentations. Their knowledge base is exceptional, and in addition to guest speaking, they have been actively involved in mentoring students, bringing students on in a co-op capacity at their organization, engaging through alumni events, and providing curriculum advice at GBC roundtable discussions regarding alternative careers for internationally trained professionals to transition into the health and safety industry.

Their positive outlook and desire to prepare the next generation of future professionals is admirable. 

Alumni Innovation Award

Winner: Aisha Addo
Graduate Business-Accounting, 2012
Position: Founder/CEO at Power to Girls Foundation / DriveHER Inc.

Aisha Addo founded Power to Girls to provide young black women with the mentors and role models that were absent while she was growing up in foster care. The international organization offers programs, workshops, camps, and conferences to empower Afro-diaspora girls through mentorship, community interaction and recreational activities.

Addo is also named one of 14 Iconic Canadian Women by CBC Life, Addo was a 2018 RBC Women of Influence nominee and chosen one of 150 black women who has made a place in Canadian history by the CBC project HERstory in Black.

Aisha Addo launched her app DriveHER in 2018, to elevate safety in transportation for women. the driver is a ride-sharing service for women by women. They already have a partnership with Infinity Canada, Rover parking, and Weel, and have over 3000 customers and 60 drivers on their platform. By innovating a better way for women to travel throughout the city safely, Aisha is trying to impact the ride-sharing industry to mirror the concerns of the female commuter.

Alumni Leadership Award

Winner: Caroline Szymaniak (with her mentor Dr. Izchak Barzilay on photo)
Graduate Dental Treatment Coordinator, 2012
Position: Administrative Division Manager/ Chief Operating, Prosthodontic Associates

Caroline has worked with and in support of dental professionals in administrative and managerial roles for over 15 years. Caroline is a firm believer in openly sharing knowledge, skill, and experience with the dental community to help empower others in their respective careers.  She is an engaging public speaker presenting at various conferences, study clubs, and continuing dental educations centers.  Caroline has lectured to diverse audiences across Canada, the United States and recently Uganda on successful practice management topics such as effective communication, team building, traditional and digital practice marketing techniques as well as policy, process and procedure strategies.

Caroline is a content director and a regular columnist for a number of dental publications. She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Spectrum Young Dentist Journal and holds a position of both section editor and columnist. She has authored and co-authored various publications for renowned dental fellowships including International College of Dentists, Academy of Prosthodontics, Global Prosthodontic Coalition, Women in Dentistry and Journal of the Academy of Dentistry International.

Very passionate about philanthropic endeavours, Caroline volunteers her time both locally and internationally with various humanitarian initiatives.  She is a Chief Operating Officer for the Build Your Smile Dental Foundation is a non-profit organization providing dental care to impoverished communities both locally and abroad. Caroline is a co-founder of the Foundation's local initiative a non-profit dental program.